Increased anger and loss of humour amongst people in the workplace are just two of the knock-on effects that insurance businesses now have to deal with due to poor workplace health, according to new research.

The ‘Quality of Working Life' report published by the Chartered Management Institute and Workplace Health Connect has uncovered a high number of physical and psychological symptoms and highlights the impact these have on business performance.

The survey questioned 1,541 managers in the UK revealing a poor picture of health, with only half (54%) of insurance managers believing they are currently in ‘good' health. Key findings of the report were:

  • Taking the strain: 41% admitted to feeling or becoming angry with others too easily and one third (29%) confessed to a loss of humour creating workplace pressures.

  • Pressure point: More than half of those questioned (56%) in the insurance sector complained of muscular tension or physical aches and pains. 44% said they experienced frequent headaches.

  • Fighting fatigue: Asked about psychological symptoms, 57% experienced feelings of constant tiredness at work. 45% complained of insomnia.

    The report also shows that ill-health is having an impact on morale and performance. One-fifth (21%) admitted they are irritable ‘sometimes or often' towards colleagues. 14% of insurance managers said they were having difficulty making decisions due to ill health.

    Mary Chapman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: “Managers need a better understanding of the consequences of letting relatively minor symptoms escalate.

    "They need to take more personal responsibility for improving their health because inaction is clearly having an effect on colleagues and the knock-on effect is that customer relationships will suffer, too.”